AATA Blog
Featured Member: Annette Vaccaro
“I am most excited right now about the developmental journey of the art therapist. I have done recent research about the graduates from the program that I coordinate and have been supervising for 20 years now. In addition, I am learning more and more about online education and how to use technology to enhance our training. The pandemic brought the necessity to stretch our wings in this area.”
Featured Member: Ashley Stielow
“I think the weight of the world sits with so many right now. It makes me feel incredibly fortunate to be able to process events of race, diversity and social justice with my clients.”
Featured Member: Chioma Anah
“I feel so hopeful and encouraged about the way the Art Therapy field has evolved in its inclusion of race, diversity and social justice in its training of art therapist and art therapy professionals. I would like to see more of that. Ten years ago, questions about race and diversity were not even encouraged in art therapy conversations, or were spoken in whispers in corners, and I hope we never go back to that. I hope we stand firm in our inclusion of diversity and equity in our training’s, textbooks, articles, conferences, and practice. As art therapists, we must be more than allies– we need to be ‘co-conspirators’ and ‘accomplices’ to refute oppression and injustices, and advocate to protect our most vulnerable and racially/ethnically targeted communities around us today.”
Featured Member: Violet Newborn
“I’m inspired by the transformative power of art to help trauma survivors find their voice and reclaim their stories. Witnessing individuals experience healing and empowerment through creative expression drives my passion.”
Featured Member: Elham Khezri
As a graduate student, I’m excited to blend various theories to shape my own path towards healing and creating an environment that truly reflects my identity, now melded with my aspirations as a future art therapist. I’m eager to explore new creative spaces that transcend cultural boundaries, making room for people from all backgrounds in diverse settings.
At the Intersection of Art Therapy and Public Health — Hear from the Presenters of our January 28 CE Event
Join us as we kick off 2025 with Preventive Art Therapy: The Ethical Intersection of Art Therapy and Public Health, our first virtual continuing education session of the year. In this session, Erica, Ping and Nadia will use their combined expertise to explore the ethical intersection of art therapy and public health, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health proactively to create lasting, sustainable change.
AATA Urges New York Governor Hochul to Allow Licensed Creative Arts Therapists to Directly Bill Medicaid
Dec. 20, 2024 – AATA sent a letter to New York Governor Hochul urging her to sign A9018/S8715 into law. The bill, which was passed by the state House and Senate in June, would authorize Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCAT) to bill Medicaid directly for their services.
New Americans for the Arts Survey Shows How Important the Arts are to People’s Lives and Communities
As discussions about the connection between arts and mental health continue to become more prevalent, the release of Americans for the Arts’ first public opinion survey since 2018, Americans Speak Out About the Arts (conducted in July of 2023), further underscores the importance of arts in both in communities and in individual emotional and physical wellbeing.
ACATE Announces Adoption of Revised CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy
At its November meeting, the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) approved the revisions to the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy.
Prior to the Open Hearing held on September 24, ACATE reviewed the 57 comments that were received during the preceding public comment period. A significant number of those comments suggested changes in specific wording.
Great News from Virginia! Licensure Regulations have been Signed by the Governor
On Monday, November 18th, Governor Glenn Youngkin officially signed the art therapy licensure regulations. This long-awaited milestone marks a huge victory for art therapists and their supporters. A heartfelt thank you to every advocate who helped make this possible, from the initial legislative efforts to the relentless push for final approval. This success is a reminder of the power of perseverance—slow and steady truly wins the race!